Pressure ulcers are severe and sometimes life-threatening medical conditions that affect a high number of patients and residents living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Several studies show that as high as one-in-five patients and residents of these facilities have experienced signs of a pressure ulcer at some point…
Some recent discoveries have shown that there is a need to redefine the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel’s (NPUAP) definition of deep tissue injury. Although etiological studies of deep tissue injury (DTI) primarily pertained to the characterization of biomechanical factors influencing its onset and progression, new findings suggest that the…
The prevalence of chronic wounds located in the lower extremity area is high among older adults. Not only can they be extremely deleterious and pose major health risks, they also increase socioeconomic burden because of the high expenses of wound care, long duration of healing time, increased complication rate and…
According to the New York Times, the federal government will be implementing significant changes to the rating system of nursing homes in the United States. Currently, the ratings are based on a five star system that is scrutinized by the public. This five star rating system “has been criticized for…
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the SCAN Health Plan, and The Commonwealth Fund produced the second annual State Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Scorecard, which gages system performance from the perspective of service users and their families. The finest quality of care in a skilled nursing…
Unfortunately, pressure ulcers are preventable, yet common conditions which arise in elderly individuals who reside in nursing homes and other healthcare settings. Not only do these severe wounds cause physical discomfort and pain, but a study published in Wounds delved into the social and psychological effects of pressure ulcers which…
Recent research has been conducted to explain why the elderly population may be at higher risk for pressure ulcer development. Our skin functions as a defensive barrier against physical and chemical trauma and disease. However, research has uncovered correlations between skin changes that occur with age which may serve as…
Many elderly residents who are hospitalized or living in nursing homes frequently develop pressure ulcers, the development of which risk further complications and even death. Consequently, caretakers for the elderly, particularly those in hospitals and nursing homes, must take precautions to prevent pressure ulcer development within this population. Studies have…
A new study published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluded that there is a direct correlation between pressure ulcers (bedsores) developed during hospitalization, patient mortality and hospital re-admittance. According to the study, not only did seniors that developed pressure ulcers during their hospital stay have a higher…
The Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA) recently published an article titled, “Factors Associated with Physician and Nurse Practitioner Pressure Ulcer Staging Practices in Rehabilitative and Long-Term Care” that studied patterns of assessment, staging, and documentation practices concerning pressure ulcer wounds in skilled nursing facilities. The study investigated…